Self-sealing electrode guide

摘要

A self-sealing electrode guide for supporting an electrode in an electrode port of a welding chamber, includes a housing adapted to be mounted in the electrode port and a sealing sleeve accommodated in a housing channel defined in the housing. The sealing sleeve has opposite first and second ends and an open-ended passage adapted to receive the electrode. The first end is disposed for exposure to an external force which is oriented in a direction extending from the first end towards the second end and which is derived from a pressure in the welding chamber. An abutting arrangement is provided in the housing for cooperating with the second end to prevent displacement of the sealing sleeve relative to the housing. The sealing sleeve is resiliently deformable by the external force for assuming a deformed state in which the sealing sleeve is sealingly pressed about the electrode and against housing walls forming the housing channel.